Counter rotation steering wheel

Abstract

A steering column assembly configured to couple to a steering wheel is provided. The assembly includes a steering column shaft having a first end and a second end, the second end configured to couple to the steering wheel. The assembly also includes an intermediate shaft coupled to the steering column shaft first end. The assembly further includes a steering input pinion coupled to the intermediate shaft. The assembly yet further includes a counter rotation mechanism configured to counter rotate rotational movement of the steering column assembly such that the steering wheel does not rotate.

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed: 
     
       1. A steering column assembly configured to couple to a steering wheel, the assembly comprising:
 a steering column shaft having a first end and a second end, the second end configured to couple to the steering wheel; 
 an intermediate shaft coupled to the steering column shaft first end; 
 a steering input pinion coupled to the intermediate shaft; and 
 a counter rotation mechanism causing a non-rotational condition of the steering wheel via counter rotational movement of the steering column assembly during rotation of the steering input pinion. 
 
     
     
       2. The steering column assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the counter rotation mechanism is positioned between the intermediate shaft and the steering input pinion. 
     
     
       3. The steering column assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the counter rotation mechanism is positioned between the intermediate shaft and the steering column shaft. 
     
     
       4. The steering column assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the counter rotation mechanism is positioned between the steering column shaft and the steering wheel. 
     
     
       5. The steering column assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the counter rotation mechanism is positioned within the intermediate shaft. 
     
     
       6. The steering column assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the counter rotation mechanism is positioned within the steering column shaft. 
     
     
       7. The steering column assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a self-steering mechanism operably coupled to the steering column assembly, the self-steering mechanism configured to rotate the steering column assembly during an autonomous driving mode. 
     
     
       8. The steering column assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the steering column assembly is movable between a deployed position where a driver may manually rotate the steering wheel, and a stowed, anti-rotation position where the counter rotation mechanism is active to cause the non-rotational condition of the steering wheel. 
     
     
       9. A steering column assembly configured to couple to an operator steering input device, the assembly comprising:
 a steering column shaft having a first end and a second end, the second end configured to couple to the operator steering input device; 
 an intermediate shaft coupled to the first end of the steering column shaft; and 
 a counter rotation mechanism configured to counter rotate rotational movement of at least one of the steering column shaft and the intermediate shaft such that the steering input device rotates at the same ratio as the steering column assembly in the opposite rotational direction as the steering column assembly to counter rotatively cause a non-rotational condition of the steering input device to maintain the steering input device in a single angular position during rotation of the steering column shaft. 
 
     
     
       10. The steering column assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the counter rotation mechanism is disposed within the steering column shaft. 
     
     
       11. The steering column assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the counter rotation mechanism is disposed within the intermediate shaft. 
     
     
       12. The steering column assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a self-steering mechanism operably coupled to the steering column assembly, the self-steering mechanism configured to rotate the steering column assembly during an autonomous driving mode. 
     
     
       13. The steering column assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the steering column assembly is movable between a deployed position where a driver may manually rotate the operator steering input device, and a stowed, anti-rotation position where the counter rotation mechanism is active to cause the non-rotational condition of the steering wheel. 
     
     
       14. A steering column assembly configured to couple to a steering wheel, the assembly comprising:
 a steering column shaft having a first end and a second end, the second end configured to couple to the steering wheel; 
 an intermediate shaft coupled to the steering column shaft first end; 
 a steering input pinion coupled to the intermediate shaft; and 
 a counter rotation mechanism configured to counter rotate rotational movement of the steering column assembly to counter rotatively cause a non-rotational condition of the steering wheel during rotation of the steering input pinion while maintaining coupling between the steering column shaft, the intermediate shaft and the steering input pinion. 
 
     
     
       15. The steering column assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the counter rotation mechanism is positioned between the intermediate shaft and the steering input pinion. 
     
     
       16. The steering column assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the counter rotation mechanism is positioned between the intermediate shaft and the steering column shaft. 
     
     
       17. The steering column assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the counter rotation mechanism is positioned between the steering column shaft and the steering wheel. 
     
     
       18. The steering column assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a self-steering mechanism operably coupled to the steering column assembly, the self-steering mechanism configured to rotate the steering column assembly during an autonomous driving mode. 
     
     
       19. The steering column assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the steering column assembly is movable between a deployed position where a driver may manually rotate the steering wheel, and a stowed, anti-rotation position where the counter rotation mechanism is active to cause the non-rotational condition of the steering wheel.